In what could intensify the controversy on SEZs, the Planning Commission today said it was not against utilisation of farm land for setting up Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as it would not jeopardise food security in the country."Utilisation of about 1% agricultural land for setting up industries will not jeopardise food security," a senior official of the Commission said.He argued that the loss on account of utilisation of farm land for heavy industries can be easily compensated by increasing agricultural productivity.Refusing to agree that acquisition of farm land could pose a serious risk to the country's food security, the official said, "it is an overstatement," and pointed out that the benefits of such zones would be manifold.However, he said the present Land Acquisition Act, which was enacted about 100-years ago, has outlived its utility and should be re-enacted to meet the current needs.The government, he added, was looking at the possibility of enacting a fresh legislation on land acquisition to facilitate setting up of industries without sacrificing the interests of the land owners.The SEZ policy of the government has raised a huge controversy, especially after violent protests witnessed against acquisition of land by the West Bengal government at Nandigram, resulting in loss of several lives.The government has recently imposed a limit of 5,000 hectares and shifted the onus of acquiring land to the SEZ developers.
